WhiteFanposts Fanshots Red Sox StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Red Sox NewsYahoo Red Sox Team PageYahoo Red Sox ReportYahoo Red Sox Depth ChartYahoo Red Sox TransactionsYahoo Red Sox PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub RoundupMLB Roundup 3/22: Extension season continuesAnd an all-time great says goodbye.EDTShareTweetShareShareMLB Roundup 3/22: Extension season continuesJonathan Dyer-USA TODAY SportsTwo more big-name extensionsExtension season continues to roll along as some players seem afraid of the free agency process and are signing on to under-market deals to guarantee money now while it’s offered. One such player is Blake Snell http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , who to be fair only had one season of free agency bought out. Still, it was a bit of a shock after the Rays insulted the 2018 Cy Young winner with a tiny raise in pre-arbitration salary, a move that led Snell have some natural animosity. Apparently that is out the window now, as Tampa Bay and their ace pitcher have agreed to a five-year deal worth $50 million. This is a huge steal for the Rays, because while Snell has only had one season of this caliber his stuff last year certainly would lead one to believe he is no fluke. Snell, meanwhile, does get some financial security in case of injury or just implosion of performance. It’s also bad news for the rest of the division, because while a trade is certainly still possible at some point it’s not as likely as it was when you looked at what he was likely to be paid through arbitration.Meanwhile, out in St. Louis, the biggest move the Cardinals made this offseason was to acquire Paul Goldschmidt. Getting one of the game’s top and most consistent first basemen is a huge move, of course Matt Williams Jersey , but it was also a rental as he was set to hit free agency after this season. Not anymore! Goldschmidt agreed to a five-year, $130 million deal with the Cardinals on Thursday. At first glance, this is way under market value. It’s Paul Goldschmidt! I still think that’s true, to be clear, but he is 31 and saw some key numbers trending in the wrong direction. He’s still certainly worth more than this on the open market, but after seeing the trends of free agency I’m not super surprised he jumped at this particular deal.Ichiro says goodbyeSome may not have noticed because it was happening pretty early in the morning, but the regular season kicked off this week with the Mariners and Athletics playing a couple of games in Japan before waiting a week to start the rest of their year with everyone else. The games were kind of ugly but both exciting, though they are going to be remembered for one specific moment. On Thursday, in the middle of the game it was reported that Ichiro would be retiring after that game. Some figured that was somewhat likely to happen regardless, but it was never known for a fact. Then, with about five innings left http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , it suddenly hit us that it was the last day we’d have with Ichiro as a player. He got raucous cheers every time he was on the field, and then he had the field to himself as he walked off to deafening cheers from the Japanese crowd. Ichiro is, of course, a hero over there as well as a fan favorite here. One of the best pure hitters to ever play the game, his hitting style was iconic and is going to be imitated by fans of my generation for years to come. See you in Cooperstown, Ichiro. If Las Vegas is right, the New York Yankees are going to hit a lot of home runs during the 2019 season.BetOnline released its latest odds for who will lead the major leagues in long balls during the upcoming campaign, and Yankees sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge topped the list. Stanton was given +700 odds (bet $100 to win $700), while Judge checked in at +1,000.Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez and Texas Rangers left fielder Joey Gallo round out the top five.B/R Betting br_bettingWho will be MLB home run leader this season?Giancarlo Stanton: +700Aaron Judge: +1000Mike Trout: +1600J.D. Martinez: +1800Joey Gallo: +1800Khris Davis: +2000Bryce Harper: +2500Nolan Arenado: +2500(Odds via BetOnline) zD2Mv0RcfwWhile he may not have the name recognition across fanbases throughout the league as Trout Willie Mays Jersey , Stanton and Judge, Oakland Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis appears to be the best value bet. He is sixth on the list at +2,000 and is coming off a season that saw him lead the league in home runs with 48.He has also been a steady source of long-ball consistency after drilling more than 40 in each of the last three seasons, so there is no reason to think 2018 was an anomaly.As for the Yankees sluggers, Stanton hit 38 last season, and Judge blasted 27 in 2018, although it should be noted the latter dealt with injury concerns and played just 112 games. Stanton was also adjusting to the American League and a new environment after he was traded from the Miami Marlins.They each flashed their high ceiling when it comes to homers in 2017 when Stanton hit a head-turning 59 and Judge finished with 52. Either of those numbers would have led the league in 2018.Even if they fall short of Davis' total again, the fact the two favorites on this list of odds are in the same lineup should serve as a warning to the rest of the American League as the season approaches.